The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-12-10
A Visit TO st. Landry.

We make the following additional extracts
from the notes taken by the travelling cores
pondent of the New Iberia Enterprise and
published in a recent issue of that excellent
journal:
"Shaiw ma goola, fna fee-na.n You never
hear the above spoken in polite, or impolte
society now. 1t was the Indians salutation
when he met Misunderstanding erect, he eX-
tended his hand and said it. When old Bob
Brandy died, 81 years 20, st. Landry parish
seemed to give over all interest in the ravel
ed edges of local indianism. Old Bob would
never say ereho tno) to a treat his accustom-
ed esqman Iyesl on such occasions was we'll
known. He was equally fond of acaakeaipe
(beef meatl and in order to satisfy his thirst,
or stay lis hunger, would rally some white
friend "Gin me two bits, four bits-On dol
lar, so n
/ Old Aa,s,,i4 Lastrapes and J Ohm Chevis had
known tho indians perhaps their degree of
Indian blood touches n sympathetic chord.
Now and then yOu meet on the road o few Of
the light colored Alabama or dark Choctaw.
One institution they have preserved to per-
fection, ia that their squaws still IDOL heap
work. Their courting days were full of sim
plicity and happiness: Magrulla would sat
near to Loniz-he threw she'll, bit of buck
skin, perhaps string of beads to her. She,
cOyly, threw them back thus, they bantered
with each other until finally (if She accepted
him) she kept his offering. She was the first
,
"heatah," tgoodmorning.) Their burial SER
vice was elaborate. Six times the pall-bearers
walked around ths "hamah' (hut,l thenothey
entered and conveyed the corpse a4ay. They
buried their dead sitting o6 lying aslant with
all implements, etc, belonging to theml ar
The racket" game was their chief amuse
ment, or racing on the bayous or lakes in
their lIoatahs. Lo! the poor Indian his style
has departed-and few remain-,ust q hand
ful of the Oppelloussas tspeled so in court
records j couple Of the Biloxi; corporal's
guard of the Attakapas; a squad of the Chite-
machez-amalgamated ah SO changed, so
bedraggled, so un-indianified. In 1862 the sons
of Francois Poupon Pitre, living out in St.
Landry, cut down an oak tree and on splitting
up the top, found imbedded there an Indian
arrow head.
tractor Andre Lastrapes-has sufficient archi-
tectural remains for us to suppose that it was
once there. For some years this State
educational institution has been loafing, as it
were.
Had the pleasure of meeting the Rev. T. j.
Hough, the owner of Jersey Farm, who was q
member of the Louisiana Methodist Confer
ence for years, but retired on account of ill
health Has built $4,000 residence. Raises
Jerseys, has also famous Holstein bull Meth
erland. and fine horses-grade, Norman mares,
Ethen Allen sire. President of the Farmers
local aliidHc6. luef6 are y aillanc6S Ill the
parish, membership nearly 600 They have
inaugurated parish fair to take place in 1888
Had z smal cotton crop. Made ample corn
and Nsy Has 200 acres of land in pasture.
Grows the German mllet, plants one bushel
to acre; also cut 81 acres of oats, plants
two bushels Of Texas red rust proof oats to
the acre.
Capt. j. p. Saith, cotton $50 acres, yield
1900 poh,ds lift on seed per acre; uses cot
ton seed lttilizer. Corn 25O acres; yield per
acre l5 barftss clean corn. Mr.. w. ). Obier
manager. Hay saved was 80 tons. Condition
Of land sandy and loam. Jersey breed of cat
tie. Horses selected breed. Raises large
work mules-has fine Jack. Superior stock
of hogs.
This climate and soil will encourage most
any enterprise in orchard or vegetable growth.
Sugar cane and orange groves, though not
much indulged in, still, where they are grown,
do well-rice though is successfully grown
aud Messrs. Smith and Montgomery, indepen-
dent and progressive gentlemen farmers have
reclaimed Il large area of low prairie on their
places specially adapted for rice culture in
1888. Capt Smiths 10 acres of rice, 1887 /,
yielded $50 barrels Of the grain. Stnbbe rice
especially luxurant, but he favors it only as
substantial stock feed. Drainage perfect
water held in store, obviating the use of steam
pump.
At Coulee Croche (crooked bayou magnifi-
Gently rich country, ) miles to the south west
Capt. Smiths other farm is operated by his
son.
j. T. Montgomery Esq, has 500 acres cot
ton; picked therefrom 800 bales lint. Corn
800 acres, giving 80 bushels grain to the acre.
Peayine hay and fodder ample. Drainage
good. Like Capt. Smith has been raising his
own work mules for years-fne brood mares.
Superior running stock-horses Has the
Bramah stock of cattle Mr.. John Wilson
manager.
DR.. D. p. Daily, l75 acres of cotton; corn
yielded we'll; oats planted.
DR. Lawrence Daiy-cotton 1 10 acres, aver
age yield per acre 1900 pounds lint on seed.
Corn ITO acres, equivalent to 1000 barrels.
Oats and hay ample. New barn up aud gem
eral improvements. Drains into Bourbeux
Bayou. Short horned cattle owns Hamilto-
nan stallion, dams time, q minutes; sire's
time, 2-27-one mile. Bellevue Prince, young
/ Norman stallion, (l6 months oldl weight 240O
/ pounds height Is hands will use ''eross" for
draught stock Mr.. Charles NJ. Daily, mana
! ger.
Bellevue Variety Hall has central and
/ pretty location.
Found in Mr. Addison Dimmck prominent
and public spirited gentleman. He is gen
! er.sl organizer and chairman of the Farmers
/ Alliance committee-the right man in the
1 right place. These most necessary and prac-
| ticai alliances in Louisiana sum up 1900 MEM
/ bers. In Texas they aggregate 100000 mem.
1 bers. Mr.. p will shortly visit other parishes
i in the interest of this most welcome organiza-
\ tion More anon. His plantation has 300
|. acres cotton, yield 1900 pounds lint on seed to
I acre. Corn 800 acres, yield 5000 bushels Hay
/ saved 80 tons. Uses Pratt cotton gin stand.
Mr.. ID. showed me variety Of petrifed OBJ.
.jects sweet potatoes, 2eorns, hickory nuts
/ etc, found two feet below surface of ground
on bayou bank Has an inexhaustible supply
of potters clay twhiteGstiff ciay). Shipped a
/ lot of it on to Kentucky pottery where they
made different articles glazed ware, etc
/ High freights only draw back. good potter
would find it advantageous to settle in Belle,
yue, Mr.. D. would make liberal concessions
/ TO same. Wood is cheap. Mr.. Frank Dim
mick assistant manager.
As many planters were away from home as
| rode through here, shall give more detailed
account later.
In Prairie Basse, met Monsieur Joseph Fro
sard--a we'll informed and interesting gentle
mana baloonist, chemist and successful
planter; has so acres cotton, yield 40 bales
Harvested 900 barrels corn.
Mr.. A. G. Olivier has we'll appointed store
at FrOzard's.
Prairie des Femmes, some five miles from
Grand Coteau, east Woman's prairie-gen
erai health of the ladies very good Can't say
M ,frch far the neu--a number OF WIDOWS